Research & Innovation Services

Staff interested in applying to the fund should complete the Internal Selection Application Form and submit this to innovation@glasgow.ac.uk. The deadline for expressions of interest is 23:45 Wednesday 25 March 2026.

For more detailed information on eligibility and funding criteria, please refer to the UKRI guidance.

Projects must:

• Secure approval from the University’s IP & Commercialisation Team to apply
• Be 9-12 months long and commence activities by 1 October 2026
• Focus on mid-late stage commercialisation (no discovery or curiosity-driven research)

Projects must not be eligible to apply for any live or upcoming UKRI Council-specific translation, knowledge exchange or commercialisation funds. If you are unsure, please contact us.

Please note that applications are welcome from researchers at all career stages, including ECRs, technicians, and professional enabling staff.

• Applicants can request 80% of the full economic cost for projects costing £100-250k (i.e. maximum POC grant = £200K)
• Project activity should encompass both technical advancement or commercial development (see example activities below)
• Patent and trademark costs will not be covered

To be successful, project activity must encompass both technical advancement and commercial development. You should select relevant activities from both categories below:

Technical Advancement

• Advancement of existing research outputs toward real-world applications
• Development of prototypes and prototype demonstration
• Product, process, or service design
• "Technical" and real-world concept optimisation
• Validation studies including larger-scale viability studies

Commercial Development

• User testing and feedback
• Refining routes to markets, users, or audiences
• Development of the business model including future financial sustainability
• Development of product, process, or service value chains including scale-up requirements
• Development of understanding of market, user, or audience segmentation and positioning
• Development of intellectual property strategy
• Establishing or demonstrating freedom to operate
• Developing regulatory or standards requirement needed to reach user/audience
• Confirmation of market validation and product or market fit
• Establishment of and test value proposition with target market or audience

Successful applicants will demonstrate:

• A clear understanding of the market opportunity and route to market
• Technical evidence that their concept is feasible
• A clear plan to increase the commercial readiness of the project within the timeframe

Applications from researchers already engaged with the IP & Commercialisation team by 1 January 2026 are welcomed. Early engagement with your IP & Commercialisation Manager is advised, and all applications should be submitted by 11:45pm on Wednesday 25 March 2026.

The institutional selection panel will be comprised of internal commercialisation experts, external industry advisors, and senior leadership at the University, chaired by Vice Principal Uzma Khan. This panel will be convened to select two applications with one reserve candidate. Please note that based on experience with this fund and reviewing previous successful applications, scoring will be weighted towards a commercial outcome for projects. All applicants will be informed of the result, and feedback will be provided.

Key dates

To submit an expression of interest or for further advice, please contact innovation@glasgow.ac.uk